A/N: The title for this chapter comes from the song Break Down Here by Julie Roberts. Here are the relevant part of a verse and the chorus:

Under fifty-thousand miles ago
Before the bad blood and busted radio
You said I was all you'd ever need
Love is blind and little did I know
That you were just another dead-end road
Paved with pretty lies and broken dreams...

I'd sure hate to break down here
Nothin up ahead or in the rear-view mirror
Out in the middle of nowhere, knowin
I'm in trouble if these wheels stop rollin
God help me keep me movin somehow
Don't let me start wishin I was with him now
I've made it this far without cryin a single tear
I'd sure hate to break down here

Outside of the Golden Hall of Meduseld there was one horse that more loaded down with packs than any other, a fact made fairly remarkable when it was taken into consideration that the other horses' riders were going to be traveling much farther distances. For his part, though, Arod didn't mind having to carry so much as he did the reason behind the presence of so many packs: his faithful elf companion, Legolas, was planning on going away. The steed didn't understand why or where to but the elf's murmurings had tipped him off that he probably wouldn't be going to wherever Legolas ended up. If true it would be a sore blow to Arod, who'd already endured the loss of one master all too recently.

For Legolas, bidding his horse a fond farewell was the least of his troubles. At least Arod couldn't cry and talk, unlike his other companions whose tears and words had the power to break his resolve. 'That's why you have a plan,' he reminded himself as he carefully balanced the last of his packs onto the horse's back. He patted Arod in a comforting, friendly matter only to have the steed stare mournfully back at him. 'You know that this is the best path that you could have chosen under the circumstances. Put one foot in front of the other and be strong! This is just the beginning of the difficult part but you'll get through it. Remember that your baby needs you to get through it and then once it's done you'll never have to do it again.'

He was so lost in thought that he didn't hear someone come up to him and start talking. The person stood at Legolas' elbow for several seconds before realizing that he wasn't listening and tugged at his sleeve, causing the elf to jump with a gasp. "Legolas?" asked Pippin questioningly. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, I'm sorry, Pippin," apologized Legolas in haste, mindful to pry his hand away from clutching at his chest. "You startled me."

"If that's so then shouldn't I be the one who's saying he's sorry?" demanded the young hobbit.

"I didn't mean that I'm sorry for that," replied Legolas, a little flustered. It wouldn't bode well for his plan if he became unnerved under Pippin's innocent inquiries. He needed to regain his focus or else everyone would figure out that something was going on and getting away would be made that much more difficult. "You were saying something, were you not? I was apologizing for not hearing it."

"I was just wondering where you got so much stuff," said Pippin as he studied the elf's face worriedly. "During the Quest you had the least amount of things to carry and now you've got more than the rest of us put together."

Legolas smiled faintly and patted the pile of supplies on Arod's back. "It's just a few things that I've accumulated along the way," he said.

"I have a few souvenirs myself," Pippin told him. Legolas relaxed for a second, thinking that he'd dealt with the situation quite well when the hobbit continued on. "How could you miss what I said, especially with your keen hearing? You're getting sick again, aren't you?

The elf felt a new burst of guilt at having Pippin fuss over his well being. The hobbits had gotten as attached to him as he was to them, only they were younger and not used to the idea of not being surrounded by everyone that they loved for the rest of their lives. The Quest, after all, had been an all-encompassing but ultimately temporary thing and Pippin, Merry, Sam, and Frodo had all expected to return to the Shire unless death stopped them. Leaving their new companions behind to go back to their old lives was more painful in some ways because it was more permanent and it was starting to show in the way that they were acting. If this was how Pippin reacted when he just suspected that something might be wrong, how was he going to take the news that would surely be passed around if – when – Legolas' plan was a success? "Pippin –"

"Or else you were just pretending to feel better before so that no one would give you a hard time about taking part in the funeral processional," Pippin went on as if Legolas hadn't spoken. "Please, don't act strong for our sakes! You don't need to be traveling with us if you're not feeling well."

"I want to see everyone off," replied Legolas in what he hoped was a breezy tone. "Besides, I'm leaving too; it seems silly for me to ride off alone then while the rest of you head off in another direction."

"But you don't have to be off right away," argued Pippin stubbornly. "Merry says that King Eomer is nice; I bet that he'd let you stay here for a bit while you rested up and had a healer look over you. We all would miss you, of course, but it wouldn't be the end of the world; we'll see each other again – someday."

Elbereth, must he endure this onslaught of heartache? "Let me assure you, dear Pippin, that I'm fine and will most definitely be joining the Fellowship on this last little journey," said Legolas firmly. "I would miss saying goodbye to you for anything." Well, almost anything – if he thought for a moment that Aragorn had guessed that he was pregnant or that Elrond figured out that he hadn't terminated the child he would leave immediately whether he'd said his proper farewells or not.

Pippin opened his mouth to respond but another voice cut him off before he could so much as utter a sound. "Peregrin Took, what do you think you're doing?" demanded Sam. Both Pippin and Legolas turned their heads to see the stout hobbit walking toward them with Frodo at his side. "Now you shouldn't be pestering Mr. Legolas now! We're to be off soon and I know for a fact that you aren't all packed and ready to go."

"He's not feeling well," reported Pippin urgently, pointing at Legolas. The elf couldn't help but feel like he was being tattled on.

Instantly Sam turned his attentions on to the prince, who did indeed – now that he was looking at him more closely – look to be a little ill. Knowing how stoic and strong Legolas was, the fact that any sign of sickness had slipped into his expression and body language undoubtedly meant that something was terribly wrong. "Oh, I knew you weren't recovered enough to make that last trip here," asked Sam, trying to reach for Legolas' forehead in order to take his temperature. When he couldn't reach and the elf showed no signs of bending over Sam settled for grabbing his hand. "When did all of this start up again?"

"It hasn't –"

"I just noticed it right now, but who knows how long it's actually been going on?" supplied Pippin when he realized that Legolas was about to deny everything. Honestly, if he wasn't going to take care of himself then the hobbit would do it for him! "But he's still insisting on coming with us and won't even let anyone look him over either."

"Is that true?" asked Sam, getting more incredulous when Legolas just sighed and gave him a funny look. "Well, that won't do at all! I've never heard of anything more ridiculous! I suppose it's useless to try to talk you into giving yourself more time to recover by staying here, but why not get checked over by a healer? I'm sure that Strider or that nice Lord Elrond would be more than happy to do it before we get going."

Aragorn and Elrond – the very two people that Legolas wouldn't want examining him even if he consented to such a thing, and not only because they might discover his pregnancy. To feel the Man's hands on him again, even in such a clinical way, would drive him mad with grief and he was still too furious at the way that Elrond had treated him and his baby to even consider putting them both in a position that would make them vulnerable to the elf lord again. He needed to get the hobbits to drop the subject before one of them actually took matters into his own hands and summoned either Aragorn or Elrond without his consent.

"This is a strange turn of events," said Legolas lightly, hoping to downplay the issue of his health with some cheerfulness. "Just a short time ago I spent most of my waking hours, and plenty of my sleeping ones too, worrying about you hobbits' well beings and now here you are making this big fuss over me! I appreciate it, my friends, but it's all unnecessary, really – I was just too caught up in my own thoughts before. That's why I took so long to respond; I'm not ill, I promise."

"Sam, Pippin," Frodo spoke up quietly. Everyone stared at him in surprise; the hobbit hadn't been saying a lot since the Ring was destroyed. His voice sounded somewhat weak but still resolved. "I wonder if I might have a word alone with Legolas."

Sam looked reluctant to leave his master's side, especially in the care of someone he thought was just as frail in a different sort of way, but relented without an argument. "All right, Mr. Frodo," he conceded. "I'll go help Mr. Pippin finish with his packing. Take care, and see if you can't talk some sense into him," he added in a low voice (as if Legolas wouldn't be able to hear him), blinking meaningfully at the elf.

The other two hobbits trudged off, leaving Legolas and Frodo alone in silence for several moments. "Well?" Legolas finally asked. "What do you have to say?" He sucked in some air through his nose and shook his head regretfully. "I'm sorry, Frodo; it's not that I don't enjoy your company. I'm just a little tired of people fretting over me."

Frodo nodded with understanding. "I know how that feels," he commiserated, smiling ruefully. "That's why I thought that you needed some time to yourself. Sam and Pippin mean well but they – especially dear, loyal Sam – don't understand that they aren't able to help the people that they love through certain hurts. You've changed since the beginning of the Quest, Legolas, and I can guess only one reason for it."

"Which is?" asked Legolas a little nervously. Maybe Frodo had figured out that he'd had a relationship with Aragorn. The hobbit was unusually perceptive and seemed to grow wiser after the War.

"All elves fall prey to sea longing sooner or later," answered Frodo sagely. Legolas sent a quick prayer of thanks to Elbereth. The hobbit sighed and clutched something that was pinned under his elven cloak. "Lately I sometimes feel as if I can hear its call too."

"What is that?" wondered Legolas, noticing the odd gesture.

Frodo discreetly looked around to make sure that no one was watching and then pulled the front flap of the cloak back as much as he dared to. This revealed a green gem that sparkled in the sunlight. "Lady Arwen – Queen Arwen, I should say – gave this to me," he half-whispered.

"That belonged to her mother, who received it from her mother Galadriel. Now she's gifted it to you…." His eyes widened as he comprehended the implications of the gift. "And with that she's also given you her place in Valinor."

"I would like to stay in the Shire if I could, but time can't heal all wounds," said Frodo sadly. Hope crept into his expression. "I hear that the Undying Lands of your people are a wonderful place; full of love and bliss, where the hurts of this world become nothing more than powerless memories. I'd like being in a place like that. I think that we both need to find a place like that."

That did indeed sound ideal. So why wasn't Legolas simply putting himself on the next available ship to the Undying Lands? Claiming sea longing would give him the opportunity to hide his pregnancy until he was safely out of Aragorn's grasp and once he was there he knew that he'd never have to face the Man again. Maybe that was what held him back, the notion of sundering himself from his love so completely. Maybe he didn't want to wholly abandon his father and Mirkwood without having the option of going back again. Maybe he didn't want to cut his child off from the chance of getting to know firsthand a part of his culture. Whatever the reason might be Legolas somehow knew that his and his baby's fates were tied to Middle-earth and he couldn't leave it.

"I think," he told Frodo, picking his words carefully, "that we both have longer journeys ahead of us before we can finally rest. Let us hope that in the end we're able to find what we're searching for – some peace at last."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

At last the time to depart came, along with the time to bid goodbye to those who were staying behind in Edoras. Legolas shocked both Arwen and the twins by approaching them immediately after they had positioned themselves on Meduseld's main stairs. "Well, look who's decided to be social again," commented Elladan, his sarcastic joking tone not disguising his underlying relief. His friend had been acting so distant since he found out about Mirkwood's battle damage and he feared that the joyous part of him had faded forever.

"Look who's being lazy," retorted Legolas good-naturedly. "Not only are you not coming with us you're also not even coming off of the stairs to say farewell."

"It's going to be awhile before we see Arwen and Estel after we return to Rivendell," said Elrohir. "Since it's not as if we require Ada's supervision when we travel we decided to accompany them back to Gondor after our troublesome little brother comes back from this final Fellowship jaunt."

"That still doesn't explain why you're staying here and not traveling with Isengard with myself, Aragorn, and the others," Legolas pointed out as a sudden rush of grief passed over him. He knew in his heart that his final goodbye to his childhood friends was imminent and he could do nothing to delay it.

"What, and leave Arwen to fend for herself in an unfamiliar city full of strangers and near strangers?" asked Elladan rhetorically with a shake of his head. "Besides, my brother said it before: this trip feels like a Fellowship thing. We weren't a part of that and we wouldn't dare to push ourselves onto the bond that you all share."

So this was truly it: Legolas couldn't put off saying goodbye to the twins any more than he could in bidding Arwen farewell. Would that the four of them could have one last day together, one that was free of the cares and miseries of recent years! He felt that this would be the final blow in ending his childhood. At least he was getting the opportunity to make sure that he didn't end his relationship with them in a similar way that he'd ended it with their father. "I shall miss you all," he declared, his eyes filling with tears that he wouldn't allow to fall. "I know that I haven't been acting like it lately but I do love you three as much as I could any blood brothers and sister."

"Listen to him," said Elrohir to no one in particular as his voice wavered a bit. "After all of these years he's finally got the formal-but-familiar goodbye down. Your father would be proud of you."

"Isn't it horrible?" chimed in Arwen, not caring that tears were falling freely down her cheeks. How it pained her to leave the life she had before, even when being with her husband was the reason for it! "We can't part company like this! I say we do it the way that we did when we were elflings."

"Sounds like a plan to me," agreed Legolas softly.

They all took one step back and held out one hand each, piling them on top of one another. With their other hands they grasped the shoulders of the person standing next to them. "We part only for now," they declared solemnly in one voice. "But we will hold each other in our hearts until we meet again."

That was supposed to be the end of it but Legolas couldn't resist pulling Elladan, Elrohir, and Arwen into one last group hug. "All right," said Elladan after a minute or two. "We really need to farewell Ada and Estel now. Stop monopolizing our time, young greenleaf! Oh, and I'm glad – Legolas, I'm glad to see that you're confronting your emotions so well. It will be fine soon – trust me."

Legolas was not left alone for long after those three moved on. "Was that a formal elven farewell?" wondered Eomer, descending the stairs to speak to the elf.

"Hardly," scoffed Legolas with no malice in his voice. "That was four elflings – children, as you would say – bidding farewell to the past."

"Not an easy thing to do," acknowledged the Man. "Would you mind enduring one more goodbye? I'd hate for you to leave without me wishing you a safe journey."

If only this was truly his last goodbye! "Of course," said Legolas with an indulgent smile. "First bring your right hand to your chest, like this," he added demonstrating.

"What are we doing?" asked Eomer, confused.

"I'll tell you in a moment," promised Legolas. "Now bring the hand out, like this, and grasp my shoulder as I do the same to you." Once they were in position Legolas' smile widened. "This is how elves say goodbye to friends."

"I'm honored that you showed me how to do it," Eomer told him, touched at the gesture and what it meant. "Goodbye for now, Prince Legolas of the Woodland Realm, son of Thranduil, one of the Nine Walkers, fierce warrior, he who can kill me before my stroke falls, one who holds his ale quite impressively, and one of the most compassionate and beautiful souls that I've ever met. I hope that our paths cross again one day."

"I would welcome that if it happens," replied Legolas with a touch of wistfulness.

He smiled one more time and walked away, nodding at Gimli as the dwarf crossed his path going in the other direction. "I thought the same thing once that you're thinking right now," Gimli told Eomer, coming up to the Rohirric king's side. "Upon leaving Lothlorien. It wasn't true for me then and there's a chance that it isn't for you now."

Eomer only glanced down at the dwarf for a second. "And what would that be?"

Gimli followed the Man's gaze down to where Legolas was stroking Arod's nose. "That you've looking your last upon that which is fairest."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

In the end the Ents had very little of importance to say. Treebeard seemed pleased that the War had turned out in their favor but cared more about the cleansing of Saruman's filth from Isengard than the happenings of the world outside of his forest. Still, he was a cordial host, offering gracious welcomes to Galadriel and Celeborn and showing genuine happiness over seeing Merry and Pippin again.

Legolas said nothing during the pleasantries and telling of reports from abroad, so focused was he on what he was about to do. In fact, he was barely paying attention to what Aragorn was saying about the Entwives until Treebeard's big, booming voice gave him an unexpected cue to action. "Where are my manners?" asked the Ent suddenly. "You have all come so far so hastily. Would you like to stay at my home for awhile? You could rest, and at the end of it you could pass through Fangorn Forest and thus shorten your trips home."

Everyone else politely declined, citing various reasons, but Legolas nodded his head. "I thank you," he said slowly, turning to Gimli. "Treebeard has given us leave to enter the forest; now, my dear dwarvish friend, the time has come for you to uphold your part of our bargain."

"All right, you mad elf," groused Gimli, unhappy at the prospect of going into Fangorn again. "And so ends our Fellowship! We may see each other from time to time, but I don't think that all of us will be gathered together like this again. Take care, especially you young hobbits! I don't want to have to worry about you anymore."

"May your journeys home prove to be fruitful and the welcome better than you expect," said Aragorn. His eyes shone with tears as he looked at Legolas. "And I hope that you're able to return to the White City soon and often. You – you will always be welcomed there with open arms."

He couldn't do it; leaving Aragorn – all of them – was difficult enough without actually saying goodbye, so Legolas didn't. With the barest of nods he turned Arod and rode into the forest. 'I said farewell to that Man three times,' thought Legolas stubbornly. 'Once at the encampment, once when I stood aside and watched him marry Arwen, and again when I chose to keep this baby. He can have no more from me.'

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

It was almost a week later when Gimli dashed out of Fangorn Forest so fast that one would think that there was a balrog behind him threatening to set his beard on fire. "Thank Aüle!" he cried, falling gratefully to the treeless ground.

"I guess you were right," observed Legolas nonchalantly as he came up behind him, leading Arod. "Dwarves are natural sprinters."

"Never again, laddie," said Gimli. "The trees are indeed amazing – like none that I've ever seen before – but why did you want to want to go to a place where you're constantly surrounded by things that are whispering so ominously about you? At least good stone doesn't plot against you for having an axe!"

"Poor Gimli," Legolas said to Arod, loosing his packs and putting them down on the ground by his feet. "Fangorn Forest was too much for him. I suppose I should make it up to him for dragging him in there by – I don't know – letting him have you for the ride home."

The horse's ears went back unhappily, knowing that his separation for the elf had come upon him at last. Gimli handled it no better. "I don't want to ride him by myself," he protested. "Besides, we're going the same way; why shouldn't we go together?"

"Please, Gimli," said Legolas, trying to keep the desperateness out of his voice. Arod had to go with the dwarf; he couldn't send the steed back to Rohan or anywhere else without arousing suspicion too soon and he wouldn't be able to take care of him where he was going. "I – I need to go to Helm's Deep before I go home to - to properly memorialize the elves who fell there and I wish to do it alone. Take Arod so that I can be assured that both of you are being looked after."

"If that's what you want," agreed Gimli reluctantly. He accepted Legolas' help in getting into the saddle and gingerly took the reins. "I will not say goodbye to you, laddie. See you later is all that you're going to get from me."

"Safe journey, dear friend," Legolas choked out. "May Elbereth watch over you until we meet again."

"May Aüle do the same for you," replied Gimli and he rode off.

The elf watched until the dwarf was out of sight. The tears were so close to the surface; it would be so easy to let them fall with no one around but he couldn't let that happen. "Goodbye," he whispered to his friends, his horse, his home, his people, his father, and his love.

Picking up his numerous packs he headed back into the forest. 'This is truly a wondrous place,' he thought with some measure of contentment. 'Only I would want to spend a long time here so I won't have to worry about other occupants and passer-bys. The trees here have a language of their own and now I will have the chance to learn it – and my baby may just grow up knowing it. I will use the book I found to study how some of the elves of old delivered their babies by themselves and practice the techniques. The Ents can be my eyes during the birth. We will be happy here.'

It didn't take too long for Treebeard to meet him (Legolas figured that his speedy arrival meant that the Ent had been keeping a watchful eye on him and Gimli during their visit). "Well now, young elf," he boomed. "I told you before that you're welcome in my forest, but why come back so soon?"

"Treebeard," said Legolas as he deliberated carefully over his words. "You know that I respect and love all trees, and am drawn to Fangorn."

"Yes."

"I would – I would like it if I could extend my stay here indefinitely," the elf requested.

"Indefinitely, you say?" asked Treebeard ponderously. "Difficult, difficult, but not impossible. The trees are wild, still distrustful of things that go about on two legs, but you are an elf and they seem inclined to tolerate your presence. You may yet earn their trust, but if you stay you'd have to stay with me or another Ent until that happens."

Legolas glanced down at the packs in his hands that contained all of the belongings that he had as well as all of the supplies he'd gathered ever since he'd decided that Fangorn Forest would be the only place that he could successfully hide his baby. "That's fine with me," he said. "In fact, in about seven month's time I'm really going to need some help…."

To be continued…

A/N: I do realize that there's a bit of a plot hole in having Legolas go into Fangorn alone, but I need him to go there for the sake of a coming part of the story. I tried to fill in the hole as best I could; now I must ask my good, intelligent, understanding (yes, I'm sucking up) readers to make the necessary leap.